Traveling Mailbox vs iPostal1: which is better for you?
Traveling Mailbox starts at $15 a month with 40 envelopes and 35 page scans included, and it verifies Form 1583 on a video call with its own team instead of a notary. iPostal1 starts at $9.99 a month, offers 4,250+ addresses, and adds business plans, phone and fax, and a $99/year registered agent, but its online notary costs $25 unless your mail center witnesses you. Choose Traveling Mailbox for predictable included scanning and iPostal1 for location choice and business add-ons (prices checked October 27, 2026).
Last updated: October 27, 2026. Facts come from each provider’s own site, checked that day: Traveling Mailbox’s pricing page, Form 1583 page, and Terms of Service, and iPostal1’s homepage. Prices change, so confirm at checkout.
Disclosure: Links to iPostal1 on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Other provider links may become affiliate links later. It doesn’t change what we write, and we don’t publish star ratings or made-up reviews.
What’s the main difference?
They’re built differently. Traveling Mailbox is one company that processes all mail at its own center in Sanford, North Carolina, and sells plans with a set number of envelopes and page scans included. iPostal1 is a platform connecting you to 4,250+ partner mail centers in the U.S. and abroad, with plans priced by location tier and business extras like phone, fax, and a registered agent. Both require USPS Form 1583 with two IDs.
Traveling Mailbox vs iPostal1 pricing (checked October 27, 2026)
| Traveling Mailbox plan | Price | Included each month |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $15/month | 40 incoming envelopes, 35 page scans, 3 recipients |
| Extended | $25/month | 100 envelopes, 80 page scans, 5 recipients |
| Small Business | $55/month | 200 envelopes, 180 page scans, 10 recipients |
| iPostal1 plan | Starting price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Mailing Address | $9.99/month | Real street address; view and manage mail and packages online |
| Virtual Business Address | $14.99/month | Mail in your business name; use it to register a business |
| Virtual Office | $39.99/month | Adds local or toll-free phone and fax, call forwarding, voicemail |
| Registered Agent add-on | $99/year | Handles legal, tax, and government documents in the states iPostal1 lists |
iPostal1’s prices vary by “Standard,” “Select,” “Premium,” or “Prestige” location, plus taxes. Traveling Mailbox says annual plans get 2 months free and that active-duty military and veterans get a 10% monthly discount.
Fees beyond the monthly plan
| Fee | Traveling Mailbox | iPostal1 |
|---|---|---|
| Extra envelopes and scans | $0.25 per envelope and $0.50 per page over your plan; junk mail you mark doesn’t count; unused scans roll over on Extended and higher plans | Not published on the pages we checked; see your location at checkout |
| Forwarding | Postage + $2 per shipment (not per piece), consolidation at no extra charge, USPS, FedEx, or UPS | Real-time shipping prices with your choice of carrier; iPostal1 says some “discounted international forwarding” locations save up to 80% on international shipping |
| Packages | $4.95 receiving fee per package (Terms of Service); free storage 30 days, then $0.10 per lb per day | Accepts USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and Amazon; package fees not published on the pages we checked |
| Holding paper mail | Free for 30 days, then shredded unless you pay $1 per envelope per month to hold it | Not published on the pages we checked |
| Check deposit | $4.95 per check + postage | Available, but not at all locations |
| Form 1583 | Video call with its team; its Form 1583 page says no notary needed | $25 online notary, or in person at your mail center for a small fee |
How does Form 1583 work with each?
Traveling Mailbox: after you subscribe, you complete the form in your account, then book a video appointment where its team checks your two IDs and e-signs the form with you. It says appointments can take as little as 5 to 10 minutes and work from overseas. One caution: its Terms of Service (last updated November 22, 2022) still describe a notarized form, and for customers outside the U.S., a U.S. embassy or an online notary. If you can’t do the video call, ask support which route applies to you.
iPostal1: for U.S. locations, the form must be notarized and filed with two IDs. Your mail center may let you sign in front of its staff for a small fee, or you can use iPostal1’s online notary provider for $25. Details for every provider are on our Form 1583 online notarization page.
Which address will I get?
Traveling Mailbox says you don’t need to live in any particular state, it offers several locations, and most people use its home base in Sanford, North Carolina. Its Terms of Service say all mail is processed in Sanford, and items arriving at its other addresses are shipped there first, which can delay scanning. It recommends the Sanford address for time-sensitive documents.
iPostal1 lets you choose from 4,250+ addresses, including office buildings, and manage several from one login. The tradeoff is that each address is a separate partner mail center, so hours and handling vary. Read recent reviews for the exact location.
Who should pick which?
| If you… | Lean toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want a set number of scans included each month | Traveling Mailbox | Every plan includes envelope and page scans, with rollover on Extended and up |
| Want to skip the notary | Traveling Mailbox | Video verification with its team |
| Need a specific city or office building | iPostal1 | 4,250+ addresses to choose from |
| Want phone and fax or a registered agent | iPostal1 | Virtual Office plan and $99/year registered agent add-on |
| Want the lowest starting price | iPostal1 | $9.99 vs $15, but compare your real scan volume first |
| Get lots of packages | Compare both | Traveling Mailbox charges $4.95 per package received; check iPostal1’s fee at your location |
Also weighing Anytime Mailbox? See iPostal1 vs Anytime Mailbox or the three-way comparison.
Check current prices
Prices and features can change. Confirm them on each provider’s site at checkout. General information, not legal or tax advice.